Authors Note: Hello everyone! Yes, I am still continuing my story. I finally got myself a laptop. It's been hard these past few years in my life. Now it's settled down enough for me to continue writing again. Which I have missed so much. I'll update chapter 29 and continue from there. Hope you enjoy and look forward to your reviews and comments. Thank you.
Book 5 Water
Chapter 29: Unraveling Silk
The stirring winds and crisp cool air flowed past the huge bison as three beings huddled in the leather saddle. Cold and wet, Aang took a shaky breath and water-bended him and his friends dry. Once dried, Aang focused his attention to Katara who was still unresponsive. Aang frowned slightly as he placed his hand on her shoulder gently. With a soft voice, Aang spoke, "Katara?"
The woman's eyes were blank voids of dark blue while she huffed out short, small breathes.
"What happened?" Toph asked as she looked to Aang with worry.
Aang narrowed his eyes as he shook his head, "I don't know."
Aang closed his eyes as he recalled the flashes of red. Blood. The stone hard look in Katara's eyes then the rapid change of utter shame then shock engraved in her features.
Yes, she killed someone. With possibly the worse fate for someone to ever die from. To have no control of your body. To be crushed from the inside-out.
Blood-bending.
Aang remembered Katara's cries. The terrible sounds that she screamed out.
Words that, he didn't want to believe yet somehow he could tell just by being beside her. That magnetic pull of a bender's charaka was no more.
She lost her bending. Aang didn't know how or why. But he was determined to find out.
Opening his eyes, Aang took a deep breath then jumped over Toph and sat at the head of the reins.
"Aang?" Toph questioned as she gazed with confusion yet anticipation.
"Toph, do your best to keep Katara warm. I have an idea of what we can do to help her." Aang said sternly as Toph quickly wrapped her arms around Katara, rubbing her back comfortingly.
"What are we gonna do?" Toph asked.
Aang looked onward at the vast horizon, his eyes glistening with hope.
"We're going to see an old friend."
The day and evening seemed to drag on as Zuko tried to focus on paperwork distracting himself from the constant dread. But nothing worked as he decided to retire for the night. Changing into his evening robes, the Fire Lord ungracefully collapsed on the bed and sighed closing his eyes.
His chest hurt, missing his beloved Katara and this unknown pain that has troubled him. The lord did his best to shrug off the uneasy feeling as he buried his face deeper in the silken pillows. Due to his exhaustion, Zuko dozed off into sleep.
Dark rolling waves were seen as the creaking sound of the ship's hull groaned in the air with the howling winds and salty mist. Gripping tightly on the splintering rope, the warrior continued to climb the side of the vessel.
Down below, Sokka's men kept a watchful eye out for the midshipmen on deck. Once the coast was clear, Aklaq; the northern tribesman mimicked out a high pitch call-similar to that of seabird, signaling Sokka to board the ship.
In one quick motion, Sokka and two of the warriors boarded the ship. Crouching along a few barrels, the two men quietly prepared an attack armed with weapons. Looking at his men, he gestured his hand that he was moving ahead; stay until told otherwise.
Sokka then gripped on his new weapon of choice, the whale's tooth scimitar; carefully moving towards the doorway. Unseen, Sokka entered below deck.
Every step, Sokka's keen hearing and sight made it easy for him to pass by undetected.
Peeping behind a corner, he found the cargo hold.
Double-checking for any possible pirates, Sokka held his breath as he opened the wooden door.
The scent of mildew filled his nostrils as he cringed slightly while hiding behind a large wooden crate.
Scanning the area, Sokka then saw a hunched over figure in the shadows.
"Dad..." Sokka whispered as the figured jolted as if awakened.
"S-son?!" the man exclaimed as Sokka hushed him while stepping out of his hiding place.
"Be quiet, Dad. I'm getting you out of here." Sokka said in a low tone as he started cutting away at the rope.
The chief tribesman's eyes swelled with tears as he struggled to remain quiet.
"Sokka. Your sister. She-
"We'll discuss it later. We have to get out of here first." Sokka said in a stern low voice as he broke his father free and turned his attention to the doorway.
Rubbing his sore wrists, the chief warrior narrowed his eyes as he thinned his lips. Memories of the Fire Nation prison flashed through his mind.
"This is the second time you had to rescue me." Hakoda said in shame as he slowly rose to his feet.
Sokka looked at his father, smiling faintly he spoke,"And, I would gladly do it again."
His father placed his hand firmly on his shoulder, silently thanking him.
Handing him a dagger, Sokka and Chief Hakoda prepared themselves as they exited out of the cargo hold.
–
There was a shift in the air, a presence that Iroh had not felt in many years. That unyielding power of spiritual energy flowing in one place; like dust seen in rays of sunlight.
Iroh narrowed his eyes as he wondered why it appeared again.
Standing up from his chair and setting his tea down, Iroh turned only to see his two grand children standing at the doorway.
His eyes widened in disbelief as the sheer look at their faces said it all.
"Kuzon...? Kya...?" The old man spoke with a shaky tone.
The younger boy narrowed his eyes in understanding as he took a step forward then smiled lightly.
"It's alright" Kuzon said, his voice sounding not quite like his own.
"Your brother, is he-
"He's fine." Kya spoke in as her voice too, sounded off.
"But- why...Why did the spirits do this?" Iroh asked as he struggled to make sense.
They were just two young children, barely learning their elements. What could they gain by having them possess the power of a spirit? What strength could they have?
"It's alright. It was needed." Kuzon said.
"These children hold an inner power of fire and water." Kya said as she then lowered her head,
"No, not quite...That's not quite the whole truth." The girl said as she corrected herself.
"It's a power; that if controlled properly would rival that of the Avatar." Kuzon cut in as both children nodded their heads.
Iroh then relaxed as he took in what that we're saying.
"So, you'll be training them?" Iroh asked calmly.
The boy closed his eyes then spoke softly," It will be a challenge due to their undeveloped bodies, but we will do what we can. So by the time it comes, they can defend themselves."
"These children are very special. They've sensed what others cannot, they've proved they are capable." Kya added in.
"Will they return to normal?" Iroh asked concerned.
The children smiled.
"Yes, and they are aware of all we say, do and learn. Their souls are still here; their minds half-awake; their bodies still moving." Kuzon said.
"What of their father? How will he take this news?" Iroh asked with worry.
"We will find a way to tell him. To ease his soul and heart." Kya said, her words carrying promise.
Iroh folded his arms, tucked away in his sleeves as he nodded with approval.
"By next sunrise, we will start training." The boy said as he turned to his sister and turned to leave.
Iroh inhaled deeply then sighed, this was very unusual and yet he never questioned the work of a spirit.
He only hoped that what ever they had planned, it will work.
–
Tossing and turning, Zuko found it difficult to find comfort as beads of sweat crowned his forehead,
Dozing off and on, Zuko kept having terrible nightmares of losing Katara and his children; the Fire Nation turned to ash and death.
Suddenly, Zuko didn't feel like he was alone as he opened to his eyes to find his daughter and son standing at the head of the bed. Blinking a couple of times, the Fire Lord then smiled softly as he asked why they were up so late.
The children said nothing as they then crawled into bed with their father. Kya snuggled up to the lord's chest closing her eyes as Kuzon gently grabbed his father's hand and cuddled next to his sister; eyes closed.
Zuko's heart melted at the sight and sudden affection of his two kids while hugging them close to him.
A lump formed in his throat as he tried not to cry. Forcing it back, Zuko only smiled as he too closed his eyes. Drifting into a deep, peaceful slumber.
A quick pull shifted as Zuko then opened his eyes, Zuko felt strange as he somehow felt weightless. Looking ahead of him saw nothing but a thick mist that seemed to go on forever.
"I must be dreaming." Zuko said out-loud as he in some way found solid footing on a groundless floor.
In the distant, Zuko could make out some sort of figure in the fog.
"Who's there?" Zuko called out as a windless breeze flowed by.
"Do not fear nor dread...Lord Zuko." the figure said in a soothing and warm voice.
Zuko squinted as he tried to see the person.
Appearing out of the mist, was a woman. Pure white hair, clear blue eyes with a gentle smile.
'I-I think I remember this woman...' Zuko thought as he tried to remember where he has seen her before.
"No...It can't be." Zuko said bemusedly as the woman's smile widens.
"Yes, it is I, Yue. The Moon Spirit." the former princess said in a almost angelic tone.
Touching his chest, stomach then face; the man gasped out as he sputtered, "A-am I a-alive or did I?"
With a small laugh that rang sweetly, the spirit waved her hand and spoke, "No...No you are all right, my dear. I came to you. They picked me because, they felt I would be the most familiar to you."
"What do you mean? Whose they?" Zuko asked as he calmed down.
Yue's eyes narrowed gently as she then spoke with a more stern tone yet feminine voice, "The spirits have chosen your children for a task in the future. A future not yet set, but with their guidance can help change the coarse of history as we know it."
Zuko's eyes widen in surprise as he tried to understand what the moon spirit was telling him.
"In due time, I will explain more...But as of now you must go." The spirit said as her expression suddenly turned sad. Her eyes shined with an untold sorrow as she opened her arms forming a silver sphere in the center of her chest.
"I am afraid, there is something far more important that must be dealt with. I am sorry." Yue said with a tone of regret as she then closed her eyes as the orb grew in size nearly consuming her and the Fire Lord whole.
"What?! W-Wait!" Zuko cried out as he shield himself from the unknown bubble.
Then as soon as he arrived, Zuko then was pull back warded seemingly falling into nothingness. Right before fully disappearing a flash of wife entered his mind as he screamed out in the blackness.
With a jolted, the Fire Lord woke up screaming out as he huffed and panicked looking around the room. Zuko then looked down to see his children still laying by his side, sleeping. He slowly composed himself as he then laid back down and gently caresses his daughter's cheek. Zuko then turned to his son and thought deeply of the weird encounter with the moon spirit. Along with that relenting worry of Katara still fresh in his thoughts,
–
There's the end of this chapter. I will do my best to continue! Please review and let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!